On the agenda: Transit safety, community revitalization levies, and the Edmonton Research Park

This week, community and public services committee will meet on March 20, urban planning committee meets on March 21, and executive committee will meet on March 22. Recruitment for various boards and committees continues with a non-regular meeting of community and public services committee on March 24.

Here are some of the key items on the agenda:

• Administration is seeking approval to extend the agreement for the Community Outreach Transit Team, a partnership between the city and Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, for another three years to Aug. 31, 2026, at a cost of up to $2.1 million. The funding was already approved by city council during the 2023-2026 budget deliberations.
• A report from the Edmonton Transit Service Advisory Board about youth and their perception of safety on transit found that young people and their parents or guardians who were surveyed "do not feel that ETS is doing a good job of keeping them safe." Recommendations include clarifying who to contact when feeling unsafe, reducing the need for connections on routes that go to schools, making a series of improvements to Transit Watch, and prioritizing and providing toolkits, templates, and awareness campaigns for younger riders. In response, administration says several new initiatives to support the safety of young riders will be implemented this year, including expanded mobile access to Transit Watch.
• The latest projections for Edmonton's three community revitalization levy (CRL) areas over the full 20-year terms are a $42-million surplus for the Downtown CRL, a $24.3-million deficit for the Quarters CRL, and an $11.8-million deficit for the Belvedere CRL. In a separate report, administration recommends against amending the Downtown CRL to fund public washrooms or affordable housing projects, though it does suggest that public washrooms could be built as part of existing park projects.
• Administration says it will convene a multi-stakeholder advisory group and will take further action if directed to do so by council to further plans for the Edmonton Research Park. Leaders of some organizations based there are cautiously optimistic about the city's plans after extensive consultations and the proposal to seek ongoing input.

Here are some of the other new agenda items:

• The city is working with school boards to update the joint-use land agreement that governs the planning, assembly, design, development, and maintenance of sites for schools and parks. Updates underway include better alignment with the City Plan, the incorporation of changes to legislation, and the development of a long-term real estate strategy. Of 141 playgrounds on school board land, 64 are maintained by the city. Renewal of playgrounds is the responsibility of school boards.
• Administration has identified four options to support residential tenants, including requesting updates to the provincial Residential Tenancies Act and creating a public online landlord registry to list landlords who consistently breach bylaws or safety codes.
• Administration has begun developing a Mature Area Derelict Residential tax subclass, with bylaw amendments to formally establish it slated to be brought forward in the fall. The proposed tax rate for the new subclass would be the non-residential tax rate, which is about three times the general residential rate.
• The Edmonton Arts Council recommends approval of more than $3.9 million in grants across three funding streams to support 164 organizations, including four that would receive multi-year operating funding.
• In a report on affordable housing land assets, administration says "a predictable and sustainable funding source is needed for acquisition of land to meet projected affordable housing needs." The city's updated Affordable Housing Strategy is expected to be presented to council in October.
• The city currently has 17 active maintenance agreements with homeowner associations, most of which are to maintain enhanced amenities (like gazebos and community gardens).
• Proposed amendments to the Business Licence Bylaw would require the operators of designated driver services to obtain police information checks from drivers and to refuse employment to drivers who have been convicted of a serious offence. Urban planning committee will also consider an omnibus amendment to the Business Licence Bylaw that incorporates "continuous improvement" and addresses outstanding privacy concerns.

Meetings are streamed live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.